Latest Stories
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Coronavirus, capitalism, and the cure business
Are the giant drug companies the solution not the problem? Multinational pharmaceutical companies want to make money from the pandemic, but their research may be essential to finding a vaccine.
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Ice reveals mysteries behind medieval murder
Is our history written in the air? Scientists have dug up evidence in the Swiss Alps that shows how the death of an archbishop in the 12th Century led to a drop in medieval air pollution.
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The living robot! Part-frog, part-machine
Is it dangerous to create living robots? Using the cells of a frog and artificial intelligence, scientists have designed an entirely new life form small enough to travel inside a human body.
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One woman’s fight to capture whiff of the past
Should there be museums for smells? As our lives move online and artificial intelligence takes over, some think it has never been more important to preserve culturally important aromas.
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Virus toll rises as 14 are tested in Britain
Is this a global pandemic? In China, there are more than 830 confirmed cases and 25 deaths – with further reports from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US.
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Universal cancer cure now suddenly possible
Should we hope for a world without disease? It seems possible. At last, a cure for cancer seems to be on the horizon. And, now, scientists are dreaming of a future where no one becomes ill.
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The fascinating, undying power of curiosity
Could curiosity be the most important human attribute? It lets us transform chaos into questions, boredom into wisdom, and allows us to find pleasure in the mysteries of the Universe.
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Four inventions that could save the world
Can technology fix the climate crisis? Unless we act now, Earth will be 2C hotter in 2100. Storms will ravage the planet. Southern Europe will be a barren desert. But these four ideas could...
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After deaths, Trump set to ban vape flavours
Is vaping good for society? While the US reacts to a recent spate of deaths, Britain is adamant that vaping saves lives and helps wean people off the far more dangerous addiction to tobacco.
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Revealed: sunflowers are social creatures
Should plants have rights? Scientists increasingly think of plants as intelligent creatures. New studies show they can tell each other apart, and use 20 senses to understand their environment.
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The doctor: ‘People get better before your eyes’
What does it take to be a doctor? Dr Abhishek Shetye is training in a hospital. It’s hard work, but there’s nothing more rewarding than getting very sick patients back on their feet.
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Fake burger that could save the world
Is a meat-free diet to preserve our planet the future of eating? The value of the start-up, Impossible Foods, which makes a convincing alternative meat burger, has soared to $2 billion.
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International climate rebellion launches today
The science is clear: we are facing an unprecedented global emergency according to the protest group Extinction Rebellion. In response, it is starting a week of global civil disobedience.
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Xanax plague leaves teens ‘dicing with death’
How to fix the Xanax crisis? A BBC report has found that misuse of the drug has led to more than 200 deaths since 2015. Teenagers are particularly...
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Flying cars and iToilets: welcome to the future
Thousands of glitzy new gadgets have been launched today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Some of the innovations could transform our lives — but not necessarily for the better.